MLB Execs: Mets Wouldn't Get 'Impact Player' in Potential Scherzer, Verlander Trades

In the event they go into selling mode ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline, the New York Mets might have to eat a loss in any deal involving Max Scherzer or Justin Verlander.

The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Monday the Mets "would have to pay their contracts way down to bring back a solid return."

"A few executives contacted thought the Mets would have to pay about half their contracts to bring anything back, and one said to get a good return, the Mets would have to pay 'almost all of it,'" Heyman wrote.

"The consensus seems to be that they could get a solid contributor back, but not an impact player. That might change if they were to pay 'almost all' the contracts."

Scherzer and Verlander earn $43.3 million each this season and will collect nearly identical salaries in 2024. Verlander also has a $35 million vesting option for 2025.

Another complicating factor is that the Cy Young winners have full no-trade clauses in their deals. New York doesn't have the luxury of unilaterally accepting what might be a fair offer for one or both stars.

With Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox, the Mets are 46-53 and 7.5 games back of the final wild-card spot in the National League. Scherzer and Verlander's performances on the mound have contributed to a bitterly disappointing season so far.

Scherzer is 8-4 with a 4.20 ERA and a 4.78 FIP through 18 starts, while Verlander is 4-5 with a 3.47 ERA and a 3.98 FIP in 14 appearances.

Even if it would represent a stunning about-face for a franchise that opened with the biggest payroll in MLB history, dealing Scherzer and/or Verlander would make sense if it helps New York set the table for 2024 and beyond.

As Heyman laid out, however, the Mets won't have much leverage at the negotiating table. If the only options are absorbing a ton of dead money or accepting a relatively low return, then keeping the two aces is the most sensible course of action.